For Community Representatives

A community partner is a nonprofit or government organization that forms a partnership with the Carolina Center for Public Service. The Center’s programs are committed to developing sustainable partnerships that work to address community-identified concerns.

New partners should contact Emily Gangi for more information about getting connected.

Programs

Service-Learning Course Volunteers

Most community partners are involved with the Service-Learning Courses program. Students enrolled in designated service-learning classes combine academic coursework with community service. The service experience is directly linked to the content of their course. As a part of the course, students commit to serving three to five hours a week for 10 weeks with a specific community partner.

Service-Learning Internships

Community partners with growing needs or specialized projects opt to participate in the Service-Learning Internship program. Students from UNC-Chapel Hill apply to participate and are matched with organizations that meet both their interests and learning goals. APPLES subsidizes half of the cost of spring and summer interns, who are hired by the internship site.

Resources

APPLES Community Partner Listserv

For community partners currently working with APPLES or interested in learning more about our programs, subscribe to the community partners listserv. Messages are sent out about upcoming opportunities, deadlines and other news. To receive the listserv, contact Emily Gangi.

Community Partner Guide

The Community Partner Guide has been developed to provide information about APPLES programs, getting started as a supervisor and recommendations for supervising students.

Partnership Grants

Students and community partners connected to an APPLES course are eligible to apply for a partnership grant. These grants are intended to benefit the community partner and deepen the service-learning experience for a student. APPLES offers up to 10 partnership grants of up to $100 each for the current semester.

Public Service News

Each week, the Carolina Center for Public Service publishes the Public Service News, a listserv message (and web page) that contains information relevant to the University’s public service mission. Information is divided into sections: resources for engaged scholarship, programs, events, fellowships and awards, and public service opportunities.

Community partner orientation

All organizations and staff new to APPLES are invited to attend an upcoming community partner orientation. Information will include an overview of service-learning, details about the APPLES courses and internship programs, nuts and bolts of the process and expectations of becoming a new community partner and how to use the APPLES Partner Portal. This is also an opportunity to connect with other organizations working in the community, so please feel free to bring information to share. For those looking for a refresher on working with APPLES, this would also be valuable.

The next community partner orientation will be in the spring. Please email Becca Bender if you have any questions.